The Energy Complex Oltenia, one of the largest energy producers in the country, has planned investments of 665 million lei this year, the largest amount invested in the last three years by the company, stated the general manager of Sorin Boza.
“Of the total amount of 665 million lei, the largest part will be allocated for the capital repair of Group 5 in Rovinari, but also for environmental investments, and 160 million lei will be invested in surface mining”, Boza said, for News.ro.
He says that 2017 was a record year for investments, as 75% of the budgeted investment was spent, the highest percentage in the last five years.
The value of investment works made by CE Oltenia in 2017 exceeded the amount of 400 million lei.
“In addition to the technological investments made or in progress, CE Oltenia allocates important amounts for bringing back in the forestry and agricultural circuit of the land plots affected by the mining operations, as well as for the mitigation of the social problems caused by the mining activity”, shows a document posted on the company’s website, according to economica.net.
With regard to the major investments started in 2017, these are: the installation for reducing the emissions of nitrogen oxides in the energy group no. 6 from SE Rovinari and energy groups no. 5 and 7 from SE Turceni, as well as the rehabilitation and modernization of the 330 MW energy block no. 3 on lignite from SE Turceni, but also for the modernization of the 110 KV electric station of SE Craiova.
Last year, among the completed investments, the company lists raising the walls of a compartment at the slag and ash storage Garla, the rehabilitation and modernization of the energetic block no.7 on lignite at SE Isalnita and the arrangement of the Arderea – Pinoasa North coal deposit.
“In other years, the degree of completion of the investments, including the reception of the works, was 30-35%,” say the company’s officials.
In addition, the company is o receive about 14 million lei, through the National Investment Plan, Boza adds. On the basis of the financing contracts signed with the Ministry of Energy, the EC Oltenia submitted in 2014 the first applications in order to obtain non-reimbursable funds for the investments of the company included in the National Investment Plan, namely the rehabilitation and modernization of the 330 MW energy block no. 4 on lignite at SE Rovinari and the rehabilitation and modernization of the energy block no. 7 on lignite at SE Isalnita.
The first tranche of 6.2 million lei has already been transferred to the EC Oltenia accounts.
“The opportunity to access non-reimbursable funds is an important aid in creating an attracted source of financing to boost energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions,” adds the energy producer.
In addition to the two objectives, the EC Oltenia has also taken steps to obtain funds for the modernization of the energy groups no. 5 from SE Rovinari and no. 3 from SE Turceni, both of which are included in PNI.
The Oltenia Energy Complex realized last year a production of 15 TWh of electricity, which represents an average of 24% of Romania’s total energy production. Compared to the previous year, the company’s energy production increased by over 11%. In 2016, CE Oltenia had an electricity production of 13.5 TWh.